Evander Holyfield fancies Tyson Fury to overcome David Haye

Former world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield believes Tyson Fury is capable of causing an upset against David Haye and even thinks both fighters could dethrone the all-conquering Klitschko brothers in the future.

Haye and Fury are scheduled to do battle in February after their original bout last month was scrapped due to a cut suffered by the Londoner in training.

The younger, taller but inexperienced Fury still suspects the fight may never happen. However, four-time world heavyweight champion Holyfield believes the former Irish amateur fighter does have a chance of beating the former WBA titlist.

"It's an exciting fight," Holyfield said. "David Haye is a guy who went the same route as me, being cruiserweight world champion and moving up to become a heavyweight champion of the world. Like me, he showed it's not about the size of the man, it's about the size of his heart.

"When two people get in the ring, can they make the necessary adjustments to out-think and out-manoeuvre the other guy?

"One thing I like about the game of boxing is that it's not about people's opinions, it's about what the people in the ring do on that night and whoever is able to carry out their gameplan is the winner.

"Fury wouldn't be getting into the ring with Haye if he didn't have a chance. Any fighter who gets in there has a chance and it comes down to who fights their fight."

Both Haye and Fury have their sights set on fights with the Klitschkos, with elder brother Vitali holding the WBC title and Wladimir the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.

Holyfield believes it is a matter of time until the Ukrainian veterans are knocked off their perch.

"As to whether they can beat the Klitschko brothers, it depends on which night they catch them on," said the 50-year-old, who visited Birmingham Children's Hospital on Wednesday as part of his work with the Global Village Champions Foundation.

"Some people are on their way up, some people are on their way down."

Until very recently, the four-time heavyweight champion still talked of trying to win a world title for a fifth time.

However, Holyfield admits he has now accepted it is time to hang up the gloves for good.

"I'm not really still thinking of fighting," he said.

"I guess everybody has a point where it's time for something else and I've been given that great opportunity now. I can use the exposure that I get to enlighten people and help other people become champions.

"At one point I wanted to be the heavyweight champion of the world again but that was all about thinking about 'self'. Now with the work I do with Global Village Champions I get the chance to impact on the world in a whole other way. And I find that it's more pleasing to give than receive.

"I still watch boxing and I'm still a big fan of the sport but I've moved on from fighting."